Global Compact Launched in Nigeria

(New York, 7 June 2006) - A new
Global Compact network was officially launched today in
Nigeria during the 12th Annual Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja. The
launch was attended by Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, and fifteen Nigerian businesses
joined the Global Compact on the occasion. The launch represents a significant
step forward for the Global Compact in Africa.

The
launch of the Nigerian Global Compact was the result of a collaboration
between the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), the African Leadership Forum
(ALF), the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Executive
Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The new network will
consist of several institutions and civil society organizations in addition to
local companies. Several Nigerian companies have already signed on to the Global
Compact, and were presented with certificates of membership of the Global
Compact Initiative Nigeria by Dr. Osita Ogbu, Economic Adviser to Nigeria’s
President. These include Coca Cola –West Africa, BHL Holdings Nigeria
Ltd, MTN Nigeria Communication Ltd, Okunnade Sijuade Holding Limited (OSHL),
Equity Line Insurance Company Ltd, SAP Nigeria, SANTON Nigeria Ltd,
Super power Nigeria Ltd, Neimeth Pharmaceuticals Plc
and Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria
Ltd.

In a message to Summit participants read by Georg Kell,
Executive Director of the Global Compact Office, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
emphasized the critical role that business can play to address social injustice
and spread the benefits of globalization to people in less developed countries.

He further pointed to the overlapping interests between the business community
and society in helping countries reach the Millennium Development Goals and
achieve broad-based sustainable development. The launch of a Global Compact
local network in Nigeria is an important step towards this – connecting the
business community with other sectors of society to find solutions the world's
most pressing problems.